Last week, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia played host to the PokerStars Road to PSPC. The event awarded a Platinum Pass to the 2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), and it was New Jersey resident Vladimir Grechnikov, a deep-sea fisherman, who came out on top as the big winner, taking home the Platinum Pass package to the PSPC on top of the first prize of $60,000.
“Incredible man, I have no words for this, I’m totally speechless, this is a dream come true,” said the 34-year-old champ. “I watched my friend’s dad quit his job and start playing professionally, and I picked up a few books of my own, played a couple of small tournaments in basements and started playing online, and took it from there.”
The $360 buy-in Road to PSPC Philadelphia attracted 1,598 entries, which more than doubled the $200,000 guarantee by creating a $487,390 prize pool.
According to The Hendon Mob, Grechnikov now has over $200,000 in lifetime tournament earnings. His latest $59,867 prize was actually the second-largest of his career as Grechnikov previously won the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Seminole Coconut Creek Main Event for $80,268 back in April.
Road to PSPC Philadelphia Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vladimir Grechnikov | $59,867* |
| 2 | Derik Li | $57,000 |
| 3 | Anne Marie Caparros | $57,000 |
| 4 | Matthew Zimnoch | $27,440 |
| 5 | Christoph Shum | $20,587 |
| 6 | Bharat Thackar | $16,591 |
| 7 | Eric Rowen | $13,554 |
| 8 | William Beer | $10,571 |
| 9 | John Malvasio | $8,027 |
*Also won a Platinum Pass valued at $30,000.
Others to cash the tournament were Tewodros Habte (10th – $5,990), Michael Marder (13th – $4,630), Peter Palko (20th – $2,949), Alexander Wiggins (28th – $1,745), Keith Crowder (34th – $1,745), Marilyn Matthews (42nd – $1,452), and Kevin Beavers (55th – $1,111).
Vladimir Grechnikov Wins RunGood Poker Series Main Event At Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Just the Latest Pennsylvania Winner
Grechnikov followed in the footsteps of Pennsylvania’s Rishva Iyer, who earlier this month claimed a Platinum Pass of her own. The 24-year-old Philadelphian earned the pass by topping a field of 120 players in the first-ever $200 buy-in Road to PSPC Women’s Event at Live! Casino.
“I’m like a reg here at Live! So I’m always checking the Bravo (app) for tournaments and stuff,” Iyer told Team PokerStars Pro Jen Shahade in a winner’s interview. “And I saw there was a Ladies Event and I was like, I can’t miss this. I have to play it.”
Next Chance at a Platinum Pass
Players will have another shot at a Platinum Pass on October 27 as the PokerStars Road to PSPC continues at Pittsburgh Live! In Greensburg. Another $360 buy-in tournament will run October 27-30, and while there is no guarantee attached, it’s sure to be a big field as a coveted Platinum Pass awaits the winner.
Taking place in January 2023 at the luxury Baha Mar hotel in the sun-drenched Bahamas, the Platinum Pass package, worth $30,000, grants an all-expenses paid trip comprising of the following:
- Buy-in to the $25,000 PSPC
- Six nights hotel accommodation for winner and a guest in a 5-star hotel
- Airport transfer
- $1,900 in expenses
- Platinum Pass Winner experiences during the event
Players can register for all events on-site, with more information available here.
Executive Editor U.S.
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.